GF Yellow Cake - Coconut Cupcakes

These are amazing! I wanted to show in this picture the texture, and the coloring, which was perfect! These cupcakes were everything I remember of my pre-gluten-free days! Everyone who I shared them with loved them as well!
I adapted the recipe from my sacred "Life Tastes Good Again" cookbook, by the ladies at www.eaetingglutenfree.com

Here goes:

*Adapted* Yellow Cake (shortening based)

1 c. Featherlight mix
1/2 c. GF mix
1/2 tsp. xanthan gum
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. unflavored gelatin
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. shredded coconut
/12 c. shortening
3/4 c. milk
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 375. Grease and flour cupcake pan (if using liners, grease them as well).
Combine flour mixes, xanthan gum, baking powder, salt, gelatin, sugar and coconut. Add shortening, and mix w/ electric mixer until crumbled.
Combine the milk, lemon juice and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients. Beat on low to medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping sides occasionally. Add the eggs and beat 2 minutes more.
Pour batter into pan.
Bake for 18 minutes (at high altitude), or 14 minutes for mini cupcakes.
Frost and enjoy.

Notes:
Be sure to grease whatever baking pan you use, that was the only problem I had w/ mine. I didn't have enough pam to cover the whole pan, and some got stuck inside.
These are great without any frosting!
Next time I make them I will use 1 c. sugar, it was just a bit overly sweet for my taste.

Heavenly Spaghetti


I had so many veggies in my garden, and no idea what to do w/ them. So I made a batch of spaghetti sauce. It was to die for!

Ingredients:
Lots of fresh tomatoes
A cup or two of chopped zucchini
A can of mushroom pieces
Fresh basil
A can of tomato paste
A few cloves of garlic
Lots of onion powder (husband isn't a fan of the real thing)
1 cup of premade spaghetti sauce (just cuz I had it in the fridge to use up)

I put everything in a big pot and let it simmer for a couple hours. I then put it into a food processor and pulsed it a few times, to make the pieces smaller.
Then I simmered it more. Add 2 cups or so of browned hamburger. Serve, with lots of yummy mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses! Prepare to be amazed!!

Amazing Italian!

Here I have my homemade pesto cavatappi ingredients:

cooked tomatoes and portobello in olive oil


and the super yummy pesto itself


i ate too fast to get a picture of the finished product. i liked it better w/out the chicken (kind of bland). just the gluten-free pasta, lots of spicy pesto, some veggies, and LOTS of cheese on top!

Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie, Sugar Cookies and Lemon-Lavender Muffins


I processed the berries in my food processor. Faster than chopping!


My finished pie. It was so delicious! Even the girls at work thought so! I need to make it again.


Made some great sugar cookies w/ cream cheese frosting. Used the recipe from www.eatingglutenfree.com


Mmm, these muffins are so good! Best when you add a little streusel-like topping to them. Very mild lavender taste. Used homegrown lavender!! Also got the muffin recipe from www.eatingglutenfree.com